Louisiana man accused of preying on children reportedly strikes deputy with his car
05/20/2022 2:30 pm PDT
CONCORDIA PARISH, La. (TCD) -- A man stands accused of preying on children and striking a deputy with a vehicle.
According to a news release from the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office, on Tuesday, May 17, at approximately 9 p.m., detectives "were conducting an operation relative to a 31-year-old subject, who had made contact with a minor online for sexual purposes." The suspect, Johnathan Mace, reportedly sent lewd photos to a minor and requested explicit media in return.
Mace made plans with the minor to meet at the Vidalia Riverfront on the evening of Tuesday, May 17, and when he arrived at the riverfront, he was reportedly met with detectives who ordered him to exit his car. Instead, the Sheriff's Office says Mace refused to get out of his car, and he put the vehicle in reverse with the driver side door open. Mace allegedly accelerated, rammed into a police vehicle, and struck one deputy while missing others.
Shots were fired by deputies, and Mace was eventually placed under arrest, the Sheriff's Office says.
Upon further investigation, authorities reportedly learned Mace was living in a camper trailer for approximately a year on the Vidalia Riverfront.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Mace was charged with computer aided solicitation of a minor, indecent behavior with juveniles, aggravated assault on a police officer, and felony criminal damage to property. Further charges are pending.
In a statement, Concordia Parish Sheriff David Hedrick said, "When a sex offender victimizes a child, that child carries the pain and suffering with them for their entire life. The family, as a whole, suffers when a child is victimized."
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